Page 69 of Lipstick Kiss

Before Freya could reply, he was kneeling, pulling her panties down to her ankles. She stepped out of them, and he took her shirt and underwear in one hand and her wrist in the other. Then, leading her into the bathroom, he pulledoff his towel, draped it on the vanity unit and tossed her clothes in the laundry hamper. Then they were under the hot steaming shower.

“Are you okay with using my stuff, or do you want yours?” Luke asked.

Stunned that he thought of her, she immediately answered. “Yours is fine,” she said quietly.

Freya didn’t want to speak. Luke had never been this attentive, this quiet, this loving. She thought if she spoke too loudly, it would shatter the moment. She took the second sponge he’d hung up for her and lathered her body in suds watching Luke more than she was concentrating on her own hygiene. She washed her hair and then rinsed, getting out of the shower first.

“There’s a robe on the back of the door,” he said.

He joined her at the vanity unit and helped her with his robe. It fell to her feet and swamped her body. He tied the belt and then tucked his fingers under the lapels, so she was inches from him. She was mesmerised by his eyes searching her face. Was she a closed book because she wanted to tell him everything in her heart but lacked the words?

“How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been up an hour, and I already want a nap,” she said, slumping against his body.

“Let’s get you back to bed. I’ll bring up some lunch, and we can eat and talk, then I’ll let you sleep.”

“Don’t you have to get to work?”

“Nope, Archer is taking care of things with Jason so I can spend the day with you, make sure you’re okay. Don’t underestimate nearly drowning has on you. I’m sure you’ll feel a lot better by this evening, but I want to make sure.”

“All right,” Freya said.

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his jaw. “I like you taking care of me.”

“And I like taking care of you.”

Luke kissed her, taking it deep and wet for a few moments, then backed away, giving her a cheeky grin while he palmed himself. “Get changed if you need your clothes, and get into bed.”

Freya didn’t move as Luke grabbed a pair of black boxers off the side cabinet and then pulled on a black t-shirt. She couldn’t get over how fabulous his body was. She’d never seen him without clothes since they were kids. The tattoos were a surprise.

“I never knew you had body art,” she said. “You never mentioned it in your letters.”

“It was a phase where I really loved it and then got bored. I don’t regret the ones I have but I doubt I’d get any more.”

“They’re beautiful.”

“Stop saying nice words and get into bed.”

“Yes, bossy pants.”

Weariness swept over Freya as she crawled into bed. He pulled up the covers and then bent to kiss her temple.

“If you’re perkier later on, I have a surprise for you, but only if you perk up.”

“All right, I’ll try my best.”

“Peaches, if anything had happened to you….”

“It didn’t, Luke. I have a sore throat which is probably from working too many hours at the school. I’m tired, but then that’s expected after a shocking experience.”

“Okay. I’ll go get food, and then remind me to tell you all about Jonathan Cranford,” Luke said, walking away.

“Luke,” she snapped. “You can’t walk away and make me wait.”

“Ah, awesome, perkier already. Roll from side to side so you warm up both sides of the bed,” he said, disappearing from view.

“No,” she shouted.

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